A "How to" Book?

So I have a small "office" at Pleasant Community Church. Not really an office.....more like a cry-room.....which is what it used to be. A cry room. In my "office" is a water fountain that's 2 1/2 feet off the ground and bathroom. Everyone in the church walks in and uses these facilities all the time. I don't really have a desk.....I have like a counter top and I share this on Sunday morning with the lady who takes Sunday School attendance. None of these things are complaints really. I have a home office and I keep most of my stuff there. Would I like a real office? Sure, but let's remember I'm only part-time.

ANYWAY......so in my "office" there is a book case with books, videos and other as sundry things that were in use or purchased for use before I arrived here. I really didn't give them too much thought until last week. I was slacking off and looking for things to distract me from preparing for youth group when I started gandering at the shelves.

While doing this I found this book. I was instantly excited. Why? Well for some reason I didn't really take in the full meaning of the title. Remember I was in my office looking at books for youth ministry. Books about using movie clips, playing games, doing discipleship. For some reason I thought this was like a "how-to" book. A game book perhaps. A book of fun games that has a "devil" character maybe. I don't really know what I was thinking.

I then opened the book up. Yeah, it wasn't any of those things. It was a book from the early 70's. A scare the crap out of you book. A "these are things you better watch out for" book. All I could do was laugh. Not so much at the book, though it was kind of funny....written in that Oh so 70's sort of way.....but at my own stupidity.

Here's the funnier part. There isn't just one copy of this in my office. There are several. It would appear that at some point in the past someone must've done a study using this book. Good stuff.

This lead me though to a new train of thought though. When someone looks at this bookshelf in 2125 or something....are they going to laugh at the titles and the content of the books that we're using? Are they going to think that we're teaching tripe? It just strengthens my commitment to just teach the Bible.

Snippets

-I like hockey. I know that doesn't come as a shock to you, but I realized it more profoundly last week. I play hockey every Thursday night. Last Thursday was the first game of the Eastern Conference Finals....Buffalo v. Ottawa. In this area Buffalo is a big deal (and to be honest they have won me over too). Well instead of staying home and watching the game, almost everyone showed up and skated.....the Zamboni driver would post the scores using paper against the glass, so we could know that Buffalo was losing. But I just thought.....man I love hockey. These guys want to play more than they care about watching someone else play.

-We went this past Monday to submit (hopefully) our last piece of paperwork for Corban. This will make him (on paper) a US citizen. He's already a citizen, but it has to be on paper. Great memories and time spent at the USCIS (what used to be called the INS) building over the past three years.

We also went to my parents house last weekend. I don't think I've mentioned this, but my father spent a couple weeks in Vanuatu, which is a group of islands off of New Zealand. He was setting up housing and food for mission groups that are coming in this summer. He is home safe now, but we decided to spend the weekend with Mom. We knew we had to file paperwork on Monday anyway, and Sunday was mothers day so why not. It was great time to be there with her. Corban can be a little obsessive about his Paw Paw because they love trains together so it was good to spend some quality time with just Grandma!

This past Wednesday we had a "representative" from a camp that our church supports come and talk with us about summer camp opportunities for the children and youth. Well the "representative" was actually my "uncle" Ken.....my dad's roommate from seminary, who I've known as uncle ken since I was born. I knew he was coming, but he didn't know I was working for Pleasant Church. We had a great time talking. The coolest thing though.....as he was getting ready to leave he said, "How can I support you in this crazy thing we call youth ministry? Do you have people to talk to? Do you need a place to get away from time to time?" That was it exactly. For the past 7 years there have been occasions where I've wanted to just get away for a day and be quiet or be noisy or just be alone. He has offered me to come to his camp on Lake Erie whenever I want to get away. I can bring the family if I want, or come alone. I can't tell you how excited I am just knowing I have a place to go.

Yesterday a group of 5 of us got in a minivan and drove 2 hours to a Christian camp in Bliss NY to play paintball. The camp has started a new paintball field and had a free day for youth pastors. My pastor came with us. SO MUCH FUN. The very first game of the day, my team wasn't doing well and I was hidden well over a bank. Who should walk up on the ridge, but my pastor....completely exposed and back to me.....I pulled up and boom...paint breaks in my barrel so it doesn't hit him and he shoots me. That was the only time all day that I'm aware of that we had each other in our sights. Fun.

I haven't called the phone number to order but this "Threat Alert Jesus" sure is sweet!

Marjorie's birthday is Tuesday. Any ideas what I should get her?

NEW PICTURES....have finally been posted on the Reinard Family blog. This are over a month in coming.....but there are more on the way I promise!

Yesterday the Buffalo Sabres lost. That means a couple things. I have to answer everyone that is going to bug me this summer for wearing my new Sabres hat. It also means I can now shave my "playoff beard". HOWEVER, I haven't decided if I should shave the beard or follow my wife's counsel and cut my goatee off and leave the beard......or shave it all off.......it would be the first time without facial hair since the summer of 1993. I'll keep you updated.

Fun with Play-Doh and a Mac camera

Corban loves the camera on my Mac. He also loves Play-Doh. Mommy and Daddy had most of the fun though! (click on the picture for a larger view)

Paying attention

I've been lazy this week. Here are two videos that I found that grabbed my attention this week. More substance soon.

Best Picture Ever

There seems to be a trend on a couple blogs to reference college days lately. In the process of cleaning out my church office, I had to clean out my home office a bit to get some boxes in there from church. In so doing I came across this picture. This is quite possibly one of the best pictures ever taken. I know a few of you will appreciate it. So I offer it up for your enjoyment.